ATW stock allocation questions

[craigybagel]

There have been 150s working these services on quite a number of occasions, so that's why I have gone for a guess of pair of 153s.
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Similar comments now being made re 13 02 Carmarthen to Manchester but withdrawn from 15 21. Indications that 16 50 ex Holyhead to Cardiff and the 15 21 will swap over with each other at Chester. Watch this space, I think.

Can't understand ATWs remarks re formations.
13 02 Carmarthen to Manchester changed units at Cardiff - 175002 in/175116 fwd
15 21 Cardiff to Holyhead - 150267 (not sure of the remarks as 150s have worked before)

Probably just a different person writing the remarks to the norm. I usually make similar announcements onboard when I get a last minute swap for a 150. Incidentally, 2 x 153 would probably be nicer for the passengers but when theres only 8 in the fleet it would be a struggle to find them, and there's not that much traincrew who can sign both them and Holyhead.....

 

[PHILIPE]

15 21 Cardiff to Holyhead today. Journey Check going into more detailed explanation still today:-.

This train has been delayed from Cardiff Central and is now 30 minutes late.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 3 between Cardiff Central and Chester. There are no reservations on this service throughout. Toilets are reduced. Disabled toilets are reduced.
Additional Facilities Information:
The train unit for this service has developed a safety system fault whilst being prepared on depot. An alternative unit has been sourced. The correct type of train unit will take over at Chester. All change at Chester, please.
This is due to a train late from the depot.

 

[craigybagel]

They found a 158 for that today at least.

 

[PHILIPE]

They found a 158 for that today at least.

If you refer to the thread "Marches Line Closed" under General Discussion, it makes me wonder if it is the same person who has revealed what the "operating incident" is. National Rail doesn't explain.

 

[craigybagel]

If you refer to the thread "Marches Line Closed" under General Discussion, it makes me wonder if it is the same person who has revealed what the "operating incident" is. National Rail doesn't explain.

Indeed, whoever it is is giving out more details than most.

 

[Gareth Marston]

150242 was on the 1555 from Cardiff Central to Manchester Piccadily yesterday met other half at Shrewsbury off it she said guard had been apologetic over PA system about quality of train.
Had few drinks and meal in Shrewsbury and came back on last Aber train departing 2142, 2 car 158 left with some folk standing.

 

[ValleyLines142]

150242 was on the 1555 from Cardiff Central to Manchester Piccadily yesterday met other half at Shrewsbury off it she said guard had been apologetic over PA system about quality of train.
Had few drinks and meal in Shrewsbury and came back on last Aber train departing 2142, 2 car 158 left with some folk standing.

Nice! We didn't get that when we had 150241 to Manchester!

 

[Jez]

150242 was on the 1555 from Cardiff Central to Manchester Piccadily yesterday met other half at Shrewsbury off it she said guard had been apologetic over PA system about quality of train.
Had few drinks and meal in Shrewsbury and came back on last Aber train departing 2142, 2 car 158 left with some folk standing.

The 1555 off Cardiff is the one thats booked for a 158 on Saturdays. A good proportion of the time that seems to be a 150, as do many 158 diagrams like the evening Gloucester-Fishguard. Nice they apologised tho.

Yesterday the 1910 from Swansea-Cardiff was a 158 and 153 as I caught it yesterday.

 

[PHILIPE]

ATW Journey Check today today showing numerous trains on Marches Route short formed, 2 instead of 3. Also, a 153 working one of the Pembroke Dock diagrams so could be a bit of a push in the fine weather for Tenby day trippers, especially as not all schools back after Easter break yet.

 

[Greenback]

A 153 on Pembroke Dock trains is unfortunate, especially when the sun is shining. Mrs G caught one of them last week, even though it was early afternoon she described it as 'very busy'. From her description, it was a Pacer.

 

[DelW]

I did a number of trips on the Pembroke Dock line last Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon and most were 150s as expected. The exceptions were a 2-car 175 on the 21:09 from PMD on Saturday evening, and then on Monday we crossed a Pacer forming the 12:00 from Swansea to Pembroke Dock. Most trains were well filled but not crowded.

That 21:09 was quite interesting. There was a large group of teenage revellers from PMD to Tenby, where they got off and a similar group got on, presumably heading for Carmarthen. The last down train is the one we crossed at Tenby, so they must either go home by taxi or stay somewhere overnight.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

I did a number of trips on the Pembroke Dock line last Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon and most were 150s as expected. The exceptions were a 2-car 175 on the 21:09 from PMD on Saturday evening, and then on Monday we crossed a Pacer forming the 12:00 from Swansea to Pembroke Dock. Most trains were well filled but not crowded.

That 21:09 was quite interesting. There was a large group of teenage revellers from PMD to Tenby, where they got off and a similar group got on, presumably heading for Carmarthen. The last down train is the one we crossed at Tenby, so they must either go home by taxi or stay somewhere overnight.

Teenage revellers or not - it is good to see the trains being used ! (being young they have the stamina to take the rough with the smooth - and in any case , work on a different body clock to the older generation)

 

[ValleyLines142]

Also, a 153 working one of the Pembroke Dock diagrams so could be a bit of a push in the fine weather for Tenby day trippers, especially as not all schools back after Easter break yet.

Oh that's not a problem, we have to put up with that on the City Line on the 0804 from Radyr every morning!

 

[PHILIPE]

Oh that's not a problem, we have to put up with that on the City Line on the 0804 from Radyr every morning!

On about that again Dan because YOU travel on it. It is not only the regularly overcrowded train in the UK. Only a 15 or so minute journey anyway. Perhaps you ought to stand from Carmarthen to Tenby, say, and then you wouldn't be so sarcastic about the number of carriages on the Pembroke Dock route.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

On about that again Dan because YOU travel on it. It is not only the regularly overcrowded train in the UK. Only a 15 or so minute journey anyway. Perhaps you ought to stand from Carmarthen to Tenby, say, and then you wouldn't be so sarcastic about the number of carriages on the Pembroke Dock route.

Quite - a point well made (as your often are )

Try travelling on say a Brighton - Bedford on a school break day , with good weather and the usual commuter flows on top of "leisure" traffic .....standing from say Blackfriars to Harpenden ......(season ticket price over £4200 per annum for the record)

 

[ValleyLines142]

On about that again Dan because YOU travel on it. It is not only the regularly overcrowded train in the UK. Only a 15 or so minute journey anyway. Perhaps you ought to stand from Carmarthen to Tenby, say, and then you wouldn't be so sarcastic about the number of carriages on the Pembroke Dock route.

Well then a 153 doesn't matter!

 

[PHILIPE]

Well then a 153 doesn't matter!

Probably it is the only severely overcrowded train in the 153s Diagram throughout the day. There was a reason a 2 Car and a 1 Car were swapped which was because of overcrowding on Pembroke Dock services

 

[pdq]

There was a breakdown this morning. I heard the guard telling a couple of passengers at Penally waiting for the 0930ish to Swansea that it was cancelled due to a breakdown at P Dock. Maybe that's why a 153 appeared later.

 

[PHILIPE]

ATW Journey Check today again showing masses of short formed trains on the Marches (2 vice 3)

.

 

[Parallel]

ATW Journey Check today again showing masses of short formed trains on the Marches (2 vice 3)

There's one reported for Manchester Piccadilly - Llandudno too, ATW Journey Check reads:

14:50 Manchester Piccadilly to Llandudno due 17:02
There are no reservations on this service throughout. Toilets are reduced. Disabled toilets are not available.
Additional Facilities Information:
A smaller train unit, intended for local services has had to be used for this service today.
This is due to a shortage of serviceable train sets.
--

Aren't ATW dipping into maintenance time just to cover their daily operations? This worries me, I'm wondering if we can expect to see the amount of train faults continuing to rise. Extra stock can't come quick enough for ATW, even some 142s to release 150s would help in the short term!

 

[ValleyLines142]

Probably it is the only severely overcrowded train in the 153s Diagram throughout the day. There was a reason a 2 Car and a 1 Car were swapped which was because of overcrowding on Pembroke Dock services

Possibly.

All I'm saying on the matter is that I have no sympathy for overcrowded Pembroke Dock trains (that's even if they were overcrowded after all; we don't know that for a fact) when I, and other poor souls commuting into Cardiff, know what it's like.

 

[PHILIPE]

Possibly.

All I'm saying on the matter is that I have no sympathy for overcrowded Pembroke Dock trains (that's even if they were overcrowded after all; we don't know that for a fact) when I, and other poor souls commuting into Cardiff, know what it's like.

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Marches short formed
Repeat of post #139 again today.
And today again !!! Does anybody know of any particular problem re availability (or lack of it) of 175/1s ?
There are instances of disabled toilets N/A and worked by "local" trains indicating use of 150s.

 

[ValleyLines142]

150254 on the 1308 Milford Haven to Manchester.

Poor buggers!

 

[PHILIPE]

150254 on the 1308 Milford Haven to Manchester.

Poor buggers!

The report re no disabled toilets etc on Journey Check referred to inward working of this, 06 30 ex Manchester Picc. (Booked 158)

 

[ValleyLines142]

The report re no disabled toilets etc on Journey Check referred to inward working of this, 06 30 ex Manchester Picc. (Booked 158)

Indeed so. Seems to be a heck of a lot of issues lately in terms of stock!

For starters, I think taking the 158s off the Maesteg and Ebbw Vale services would make a difference, and put 150s on those services instead of on the six hour plus Marches journeys!

However, ATW somehow manage to find the stock for the 1435 Cardiff to Ebbw Vale, which is booked for 150+153+153! So I don't understand to be honest!

 

[craigybagel]

The 0630 ex Manchester uses a 175 that overnights in Chester Monday - Friday, and a 158 from Crewe on a Saturday. If you wanted to use one of the Cardiff 158s from Ebbw Vale or Maesteg you have to get it to Crewe first!

There is a shortage of 175s at the moment.

 

[PHILIPE]

Indeed so. Seems to be a heck of a lot of issues lately in terms of stock!

For starters, I think taking the 158s off the Maesteg and Ebbw Vale services would make a difference, and put 150s on those services instead of on the six hour plus Marches journeys!

However, ATW somehow manage to find the stock for the 1435 Cardiff to Ebbw Vale, which is booked for 150+153+153! So I don't understand to be honest!

There is nothing wrong with the Diagrams. It depends on what's available on the day and where they are.

 

[ValleyLines142]

There is nothing wrong with the Diagrams. It depends on what's available on the day and where they are.

There is when there's a 158, with high back seating and plug sockets on an Ebbw Vale stopper, a journey of less than an hour, and then there's (sometimes) a 150 on a Cardiff to Holyhead or Manchester service.

I know it can't be changed but that is seriously some messed up allocations!

 

[PHILIPE]

There is when there's a 158, with high back seating and plug sockets on an Ebbw Vale stopper, a journey of less than an hour, and then there's (sometimes) a 150 on a Cardiff to Holyhead or Manchester service.

I know it can't be changed but that is seriously some messed up allocations!

All it takes sometimes is a set swap due to a failure, late running etc., to throw diagrams all over the place.

 

[ValleyLines142]

All it takes sometimes is a set swap due to a failure, late running etc., to throw diagrams all over the place.

Ignore all the one-off failures and general disruptions for a second.

Do you personally think a 158 is needed on the Maesteg/Ebbw Vale services in general?